Continental wins eight times

Continental was honored with a total of eight prizes for its innovative products at the German Innovation Award.

The Trackman XP rubber track impressed the panel with its innovative properties and user benefits, and received an award. Vehicle interior solutions were the recipients of three awards. Alongside the 3D Touch Surface Display and the two-finger touch gestures, Intelligent Glass Control, which darkens the vehicle glazing, also received an award. Four awards went to pioneering surface materials: one for the breathable upholstery material laif VyP, one for the skai digital printing collection for individual designs, one for the skai TransPorter collection used on vehicle floors, and one for the environmentally friendly Flightfloor Eco, which is specially designed for aircraft floors. The German Design Council presented the awards on June 6 in Berlin.

Greater ride comfort, longer service life: new technology in the Trackman XP

The Trackman XP’s innovative properties are impressive. Special anti-vibration technology combined with optimized tread design reduces vibrations by as much as 70 percent compared with conventional tracks, therefore enhancing ride comfort – especially in heavy-pull operations. Special additional technological properties result in a longer overall service life. Armorlug technology makes the tracks last up to 23 percent longer than comparable lugs, for example. “The award is testament to the fact that we are setting new benchmarks for the market with the Trackman XP,” notes Dr. Michael Hofmann, who is globally responsible for the industrial conveyor belt business – and therefore also for the Trackman product range. Rubber tracks with integrated sensor technology also
feature among the company’s future technological innovations. This technology measures and monitors the temperature of the carcass when the vehicle is in operation. Targeted monitoring helps operators of agricultural vehicles, for example, to improve the service life and efficiency of the components and to avoid breakdown costs.

Recognized: improved interaction and Intelligent Glass Control

The 3D Touch Surface Display is the world’s first three-dimensional shaped touchscreen, which can be operated almost blind and combines design, safety and user experience in one product. The interaction by touch gesture combines elements of gesture interaction and touch operation to reduce driver distraction and operation time. “Our 3D Touch Surface Display and the two-finger gestures ensure that drivers can use their infotainment systems without having to take their eyes off the road, which increases safety for all road users,” says Dr. Frank Rabe, who is responsible for the innovative operating elements and instrumentation segment in addition to in-vehicle human-machine interaction.

With Intelligent Glass Control, side windows, rear screens and sometimes even windscreens can be individually and smoothly darkened. “This enhances comfort and makes driving safer,” explains Andreas Wolf, head of the Body & Security business unit at Continental. The technology uses special films that change their transparency in response to electric control signals – automatically or at the touch of a button. For example, the intelligent glass can prevent drivers being dazzled by low angle sunshine. And it also lowers the temperature of the vehicle interior, which reduces the burden on the air conditioning. By Continental’s calculations, this reduces CO2 emissions by around four grams per kilometer.

The breathable upholstery material, laif VyP, is a hybrid material made from vinyl and polyurethane, and combines the best of both worlds as it is a durable material with a soft surface. It is permeable to air and water vapor. The breathability of laif VyP makes it extremely comfortable to sit on – even for long periods.

The skai digital printing collection comprises 17 innovative styles, each of which comes in three different designs. The individual designs pick up on the trends of Natural Elements, Human Being and Cyberspace, bringing them to life in intensely sharp color and with 3D effects.
The skai TransPorter collection features superior-quality, well-designed and easy-to-clean surfaces for vehicle floors. It covers a range of TPO materials for stowage areas and driver cabs. Designs are available in a textile, wood, marble or stone effect. The films are ductile, robust, abrasion-resistant, slip-resistant, and resistant to oil and chemicals.

The floor covering material Flightfloor Eco meets the aviation industry’s high requirements. It is halogen-free, highly flame-retardant and comes in a range of designs. It produces a weight saving of 700 grams per square meter compared with standard materials, which lowers fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Its high abrasion resistance gives it a long service life.

Took the awards for Continental (from left): Jochen Möller and Ercan Tunca from Instrumentation & Driver HMI, Martin Lodder from the Benecke-Hornschuch Surface Group, Barbara Kiekenap and Dr. Michael Hofmann from the CBG.
Photo: ContinentalHigh-performance, durable and a leader in the industry: the Trackman XP rubber track from Continental.
Photo: ContinentalThe world’s first three-dimensional shaped touch display that can be operated almost blind, from Continental.
Photo: ContinentalTwo-finger touch gestures reduce driver distraction.
Photo: ContinentalSide windows, rear screens and sometimes even windscreens that can be individually and smoothly darkened with Intelligent Glass Control.
Photo: Continental

The floor covering material Flightfloor Eco meets the aviation industry’s high requirements.
Photo: ContinentalThe breathability of laif VyP makes it comfortable to sit on – even for long periods.
Photo: ContinentalContinental has developed the skai digital printing collection for short production runs and individual projects.
Photo: ContinentalThe easy-to-clean skai TransPorter collection is an alternative to conventional felt carpet for vehicle floors.
Photo: Continental